As we approach Remembrance Day, this year more than ever before, I am reminded of the importance of having a firm foundation. The men and women who fought to protect our country, each of them truly believed in risking their lives for man and country. The men and women who served (and currently serve) believed so strongly in protecting our freedoms that they were willing to give up their lives. How many of us believe in something so passionately that we’d be willing to give up our lives for that something? We live in a world where it’s now considered acceptable to sit or kneel during the National anthem, where believing in God is considered passé, and where standing up for a faith puts one at risk of being considered hate-filled and intolerant. I find myself questioning, if we’re removing the very foundations that North America was founded upon, how can we in good conscience pay homage to those men and women who served and risked (and lost!) their lives to protect our nation?

Proverbs 22:28 reminds us to “remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” When we start messing around with our foundations, the whole structure shifts. And an unsteady structure is not a safe structure.

Think about it: The foundation is the arguably the most important part of your home. Without a firm foundation, your home is not secure. Any errors or mistakes in the foundation of your home only get worse as you build up. The framing, roof, and the rest of the structure will be completely out!

Just like your home, having a firm foundation for what you believe in is important for several reasons.

1. A firm foundation is important because storms will come. In a home, without a firm foundation, your home would wash away when rains fall and storms blow. The same can be said about your faith. You may think it doesn’t matter what (or Who) you believe in, but when the storms in life come, you need strength and structure for your soul. Jesus told us in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

2. A firm foundation is important because our foundation is our core. Ever heard the saying, “Treat the cause, not the symptom”? Without a firm foundation, we put ourselves at risk for all kinds of surface issues. Just like errors in the foundation of a house, if we don’t have a firm foundation for our souls, we put ourselves at risk for bad influences to creep in, and ultimately, for the progression of sin. Paul says in his first letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:18-19), “Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, wiling to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Think about it like this: If you’re trying to get healthy, you don’t just exercise, right? If you’re truly trying to change your health for the better, you start in the kitchen, because the fuel you put in to your body is just as – or more – important than exercise. The same can be said about our spiritual life – it’s not just good works or deeds that matter, it’s what is in our soul that truly counts.

This Remembrance Day, take time to give thanks and to remember the dedication and example of those who have – and who continue – to serve our great nation. The strength of each individual and their commitment to the foundations of our country are truly honorable.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” (John F. Kennedy)

Originally published as “The Importance of a Firm Foundation.” Minto Express. November 9, 2016. 5: Print.